Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed is condemning Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's effort to censor the Pentagon press.
Hegseth gave media outlets a Tuesday deadline to sign on to the new, restrictive policies on what can be reported - or have their access taken away.
Senator Reed says a free and fair press is essential to the nation, but Secretary Hegseth is attempting to shut down independent reporting with his coercive restrictions.
“Our troops serve at great personal risk, and the free press has a fundamental role in ensuring that our civilian and uniformed leaders wield their authority responsibly. With an annual defense budget approaching $1 trillion, the American people have every right to know how their money is being spent," the Senator said.
“It speaks volumes that so many respected outlets have refused to sign this misguided order. Mr. Hegseth and his team have missed the mark legally and morally, and they should immediately abandon this policy and restore the Pentagon’s longstanding commitment to independent press access.
The senator says the ongoing effort to censor the Pentagon press corps is affront to the U.S. military's proud tradition of accountability and to the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images News / Getty Images